Suspension for vehicles

Abstract

A suspension for off-road vehicles having a vehicle frame supported on flexible wall, fluid distensible rollers through a plurality of support rolls rotatably mounted to the frame. Each support roll contacts at least one roller, the axes of the rolls being parallel to the axes of the rollers and positioned vertically offset by an angle between 5° and 19° measured from the vertical. Means is also provided for positioning the rollers relative to the support rolls and maintaining a preselected contact pressure therebetween, these pressures being adjustable to accommodate various road and operating conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle for travel over off-road terrain, said vehicle having a frame; a fluid distensible roller engageable with the ground; means for rotatably mounting said roller to said frame while allowing relative vertical movement therebetween; a support roll rotatably mounted to said frame and positioned generally above said roller to contact said roller and be supported thereon, the axis of said roll being parallel to the axis of said roller and positioned vertically offset by an angle between 5° and 19° measured from the vertical; means including a fluid cylinder for resiliently biasing said roller relative to said frame to maintain a preselected contact pressure between said roll and roller; and means for selectively adjusting the contact pressures between said roller and roll to accommodate the various road and operating conditions. 
     
     
       2. The vehicle of claim 1, said roll being power driven, the axis of said roll being positioned between 5° to 19° in advance of said roller. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of claim 1, said means for rotatably mounting said roller to said frame comprising a yoke pivotally connected to said frame, said yoke having a pair of generally parallel arms straddling said roller and rotatably supportive thereof. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of claim 3, said fluid cylinder being connected between frame and yoke axially intermediate the ends of said roller. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of claim 4, and further comprising a shock absorber connected between said frame and yoke axially intermediate the ends of said roller. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle of claim 1, the axis of said roll being positioned approximately 13° in advance of said roller axis. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of claim 1, said means for selectively adjusting the contact pressures comprising a control valve, pressure conduit means connecting said valve to said fluid cylinder, a fluid-over-pneumatic accumulator, and pressure conduit means connecting said valve to said accumulator. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle for travel over off-road terrain, said vehicle having a frame; fluid distensible rollers engageable with the ground; means rotatably mounting said rollers to said frame while allowing relative vertical movement therebetween; support rolls rotatably mounted to said frame and positioned generally above said rollers to contact said rollers, respectively, and be supported thereon; and means for resiliently biasing said rollers relative to said frame and support rolls to maintain preselected contact pressures between said rolls and rollers, said means comprising fluid cylinders for resiliently biasing each roller to maintain a preselected contact pressure between each roller and its supported support roll, and means for selectively adjusting the fluid pressure applied to said cylinders to accommodate various road and operating conditions. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of claim 8, said means for rotatably mounting each of said rollers to said frame comprising a yoke pivotally connected to said frame, said yoke having a pair of generally parallel arms straddling said roller and rotatably supportive thereof. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of claim 9, said fluid cylinder being connected between frame and yoke axially intermediate the ends of said roller, and further comprising a shock absorber connected between said frame and yoke axially intermediate the ends of said roller. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of claim 8, said means for selectively adjusting the fluid pressure applied to each of said cylinders comprising a control valve, pressure conduit means connecting said valve to said fluid cylinders, a fluid-over-pneumatic accumulator, and pressure conduit means connecting said valve to said accumulator. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of claim 8, said fluid cylinders being double acting for applying either negative or positive contact pressures between the rollers and support rolls.